Foghat: NOT Live at the BBC

Angel Air/Border

FOGHAT have been around for a long time in various incarnations. The band was formed when Roger Earl, drums, Lonesome Dave Peverett, guitars/vocals, and Tony Stevens, bass, left SAVOY BROWN in 1971. They hooked up with guitarist Rod Price (BLACK CAT BONES) and debuted with a self titled LP. Rock´n´Roll, blues and R&B were mixed and their first hit was a cover of WILLIE DIXON`S “I Just Want to Make Love to You”. Four albums down the line Tony left. Then they released another nine albums before Lonesome Dave left. Roger kept on touring until the original line-up was reunited in 1993. The comeback album “Return of the Boogiemen” (1994) got great reviews (as did “Family Joules” in 2003). Since then Rod has left the band and Lonesome Dave perished from cancer. Today the only remaining original member is drummer Roger Earl. The others are guitarist Bryan Bassett (ex. MOLLY HATCHET), vocalist/guitarist Charlie Huhn (ex. TED NUGENT, ex. GARY MOORE, ex. VICTORY) and the returning Craig MacGregor, bass. But now for the main question, can they still get the train rolling?

The counter-question could well be if the pope is catholic, because we´re talking boogie rock with solid musicians here. It may be difficult to muster for the old fans that there is only one remaining original here. Something that makes me happy is to hear Charlie´s voice. They may not be as famous but they sure can measure up to STATUS QUO when it comes to grooves. Interesting is also that an English band pass themselves off as Americans, apparently that is due to an old grudge with their old SAVOY BROWN manager. The latest song here is “Mumbo Jumbo” from 2003, it shows no sign of retirement plans, one remaining original member or not. There is virtually no sound of an audience on the Long Island Blues Waterhouse Radio Show, which is a petty with such a crowd-pleasing band. They create seismic waves with “Fool for the City”, “Drivin´Wheel”, the instrumental “California Blues” and, of cause, their own hit “Slow Ride”. This may be a so-so live experience, but it is a fine best of collection played with experience and feeling alike. The irony of it all is that a Beeb live would have had a full crowd making the necessary noise to make this a ground-breaking live outing.